A load of bollards: Concern as Longford school safety zone faces delay

A recent meeting of Granard Municipal District has heard that a funding application for a much needed safety zone for Scoil Samhthann National School in Ballinalee has been submitted and that if successful, work will commence this year.

The news of this progress was made by Councillor David Cassidy who has been working on the issue for some time now.

The councillor’s welcomed update came during a motion made by Cllr Colin Dalton who had called on the council to look at school zoning marking and pencil bollards at the school in question. 

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Directing his question at Senior Executive Engineer, David Coppinger, Councillor Dalton said, “I’m looking for this through Active Travel. When you look at Killoe National School, the markings on the road and the signs that’s up, it’s just to make it safer around the school and have a refresh of markings around the school.” 

Cllr Cassidy however explained that he had already been to the school and that the application for funding was currently in progress. 

Said Cllr Cassidy, “Just on that, I was up there late (at Scoil Samhthann National School) in December with Brian Kelly and Gerry Shaughnessy as I had a lot of calls from the area. 

“Brian has given his word that he has applied for funding to the NTA and if successful, the work will be carried out later this year. That’s good news all around.” 

The council’s Senior Executive Engineer, David Coppinger, delivered the official response received from Active Travel, the body responsible for the provision of support for projects that help improve infrastructure for walking and cycling as a means of encouraging safer and more sustainable transport. 

Mr Coppinger voiced his suspicion that a commitment to funding may instead arrive next year.

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He explained, “The Active Travel section will submit a grant application to the NTA requesting funding to add appropriate school zone features in the environs of Scoil Samhthann National School, in Ballinalee.

“What’s not there (in the Active Travel response) is the commitment to money for this year. I suspect it could be next year but we’ll see. Who knows? The NTA!”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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